Prostagenix vs VigRX Prostate Support: Which Is Better?

Prostagenix is quite popular. Is there something better?

If you're here, it might be because you've been searching for reviews or information on Prostagenix prostate support formula.

Or maybe you're here because, like me, you tried Prostagenix and it didn't work for you.

Prostagenix is highly promoted on television as the most effective solution for prostate issues. But is it really?

Prostagenix didn't work for me. And I wanted to find out why.

I started doing some "deep dive" research into prostate support supplements because I had tried a couple without the results they always talked about in the infomercials.

I had tried "Super Beta Prostate" after I heard about it on the radio. Older guys were raving about the stuff and how it helped them with all the usual symptoms.

So, let's dive into the review

You can click on the links in the "at a glance" section to skip over what you probably already know.

BPH: Why older men need prostate supplement formulas

As men age, a condition known as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) occurs. Hyperplasia is "an abnormal increase in the number of cells in an organ or a tissue with consequent enlargement." Now, "prostatic" refers to the prostate, and "benign" means non-cancerous.

The take away is that most men eventually develop PBH, but it doesn't mean prostate cancer. But it also doesn't mean "normal" just because most men get it. It just means it happens.

There are multiple factors for it. First of all, our bodies all break down to some extent as we age. But for some, it happens worse and/or sooner due to complications from prescription medications and/or other health factors: diabetes, heart issues and/or high blood pressure, kidney disease, stress, lack of exercise, and, of course, our modern processed diets.

You want to use a natural product to treat prostate enlargement if you can

Although not every natural substance is good for you, it's hard to find any synthetic substance that does NOT have some kind of negative effect on the human body.

I don't know if that makes sense to you, but to me, as a believer in a God who created us, I believe he made the body to be mostly self-healing. And it was designed to do that with the products that exist in our world around us in natural form.

I also want to mention that I'm not advocating you do anything without consulting a health care practitioner. I'm not a doctor. I just do extensive research in the area of natural nutrition. But you need to take my information and verify it with a medical professional you can trust.

I will also mention it is probably a good idea to get a PSA test.

If you don't know what that is, a PSA test is a "prostate-specific antigen" test. 

According to Cleveland Clinic, "An antigen is a marker that tells your immune system whether something in your body is harmful or not. Antigens are found on viruses, bacteria, tumors and normal cells of your body."

So a prostate-specific antigen test is a test done specifically to look for markers in your blood that demonstrate your body is working to deal with cancerous or precancerous cells in your prostate.

Always good to know that you're only dealing with BPH and not something more serious.

So what are prostate supplements intended to do?

The prostate supplement market is trying to tackle the problem of the symptoms and complications that come with prostate enlargement:

• more frequent urges to urinate (and especially at night.... very annoying)
• difficulty or pain during urination
• difficulty starting urination
• weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts
• dribbling at the end of urination
• inability to completely empty the bladder
• and (sometimes) resulting loss of "performance" sexually

These products are made up of all kinds of different combinations of plant sterols, herbs, vitamins and minerals, occasionally along with other varying ingredients like certain amino acids in different amounts and combinations.

Typical ingredients will often include Beta Sitosterol, Stinging Nettle root, Pumpkin seed extract, Pygeum bark and other fruits and herbs. You will also see that some of them contain certain amino acids like L-Alinine, L-Glycine, L-Glutamic Acid and others.

It's actually become a fascinating market to me. I'm amused and frustrated with the marketing techniques (and schemes) that go into some of these product pushes in the real world. As a little side note here, you might want to read this article I wrote about the way prostate supplements are marketed to see, for instance, why some brands seem to consistently get nothing but glowing reviews.

So how do Prostagenix and VigRX Prostate Support stack up?

Prostagenix and VigRX both sit on the high end of the product price range. For what it's worth, this is partly because they both pay heavily for the cost to advertise the products.

In the case of Prostagenix, they have extensive pushes into direct advertising to the consumer on radio and television and on many places on the internet. These ads cost a lot of money and the cost must be incorporated into the price.

On the other hand, VigRX Prostate Support is a product that is sold over the internet. But rather than the manufacturer paying directly for advertising this stuff, they pay people who "advertise" on their behalf in the form of "affiliate commissions." (I myself actually have affiliate links to VigRX on this site. If you click on one of those links and purchase the product, I do receive a "finder's fee" for pointing you to their website to purchase.)

But these products are also both more "packed" with greater quantities of ingredients than their corresponding cheaper "generic" competing brands. So the cost is actually offset in that regard anyway.

You pay more for either of these than their generic counterparts, but you get more bang for your buck in the purchase, too.

So, how do these two prostate supplements compare to each other (and to the broader market)?

As with other reviews about prostate supplements that I've done so far, it seemed to make sense to put it into a chart format so you can see what I'm describing here. In this case, a picture is worth a few hundred words, anyway.

I've grouped these ingredients by types: herbal supplements (like cayenne peppr and Reish Mushroom), plant sterols (like Beta Sitosterol), polyphenals (like Grape Seed extract), vitamins, amino acids and various minerals.

Don't, for now, get too bogged down in the details of it all. And don't get too distracted by the particular quantities of ingredients. The broader picture is more about how these too products are vastly different in terms of their respective ingredients lists.

The first column is the ingredient list in the VigRX Prostate Support; the second column is the Prostagenix.

It just gives you a 500-foot view of how these products compare to each other.

First, a broad brush stroke: looking at the ingredients list, it's "herbal" vs "plant sterols."

What do I mean by that?

I spent a considerable amount of time comparing and contrasting the various ingredients in many of these brands of products. As I said, I put them into excel sheet format for easy comparison.

The more I looked at these two, the more I realized they seemed to approach this whole issue of treating enlarged prostate with two different philosophies.

What is unique to Prostagenix?

On the one hand, there is the Prostagenix, which has a lot of the beta sitosterol found in Super Beta Prostate (another TV brand). It has other plant sterols, too, which is actually a broader approach than SBP, which focuses on only one sterol compound. But it has NOTHING from the "herbal" department.

What are the Beta Sitosterol, Campesterol, Brassicasterol and all these other plant sterols in Prostagenix?

Sterols are a class of chemicals in the body that serve many functions. They have components that can dissolve in fat-like molecules and other parts that dissolve in water. The most commonly heard of human sterol is "cholesterol," (and remember, there is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol). Some people take plant sterols -- such as vitamins A, D, E and K -- as supplements.

They are used for signals between cells, for making stronger cell membranes, 

The particular sterol (in both of these brands) is beta sitosterol. While it is part of the content of the PX7, it is the major component of Prostagenix. 

What does beta sitosterol do, and what does it NOT do?

The NIH has a record of a double-blind, controlled study of over 500 men.  Their points about it: "The trial using 100% B-sitosteryl show improvement in urinary flow measures. B-sitosterols did not reduce prostate size."

So yes, it seems the best gage (double-blind, placebo controlled studies) shows that it helped with symptoms - improvement in urination, reduction in frequency, etc. But it DID NOT reduce the size of the prostate.

So let's keep that in mind as we look more closely at the other competitor here.

What is unique to VigRX Prostate Support?

The PX7 Primal Flow does have a bit of the plant sterol compound in it. But the bulk of what it has is this amazingly long and full list of different herbal ingredients.

These ingredients are in a number of different products and it seems studies have supported that these ingredients do, in fact, have some effect in both relieving symptoms and even perhaps shrinking the prostate.

Let's look at the deep dive on the research on these ingredients. From what I see here, I'm assuming the others are probably effective also. (My thought is if they put them all in here, and these "hot ones" pass muster, they likely put the others in for the same reason. I didn't research them all, and if I did, the post would be a book rather than a web page.

But I selected these because I'm more familiar with them in other products, so it seemed worth zeroing in on them as a focus. I know these are showing up in a lot of studies, including some controlled, double-blind studies that point to their actual effectiveness - BOTH for controlling symptoms AND reducing prostate size and growth. 

That seems a little more to me than JUST symptom relief as with Prostagenix.

Anyway, let's look at these particular ingredients (as they definitely have some street cred with the NIH):

• stinging nettle,
• saw palmetto,
• pumpkin seed extract
• pygeum extract.

Stinging Nettle

In an article on the NIH website called "A comprehensive review on the stinging nettle effect and efficacy profiles," it has this to say about stinging nettle.

Nettle root is recommended for complaints associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We therefore conducted a comprehensive review of the literature to summarise the pharmacological and clinical effects of this plant material.  It seems likely that sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), aromatase, epidermal growth factor and prostate steroid membrane receptors are involved in the anti-prostatic effect... 

Translation: Nettle Root seems to work with sex hormones in the body and prostate cell membrane receptors to create the effectiveness of reducing the enlargement. (By the way, I'm getting good results with an estrogen reducer called Testodren - it helps the body convert bad estrogen to testosterone and so it helps lower estrogen and increase testosterone. But if you wish, you can read my research about that here.) 

Extract and a polysaccharide fraction were shown to exert anti-inflammatory activity. A proprietary... nettle root extract... inhibited cell proliferation.

Translation: Nettle root extract inhibited the increase in the number of cells growing in the prostate.

The clinical evidence of effectiveness for nettle root in the treatment of BPH is based on many open studies. A small number of randomized controlled studies indicate that a proprietary methanolic extract is effective in improving BPH complaints.... The risk for adverse events during nettle root treatment is very low, as is its toxicity.

Translation: Nettle Root studies are many. Randomized, controlled studies indicate it is effective in improving BPH complaints.

In a study by Mount Sanai Hospital, they say, "Stinging nettle root is used widely in Europe to treat BPH. Studies in people suggest that stinging nettle, in combination with other herbs (especially saw palmetto), may be effective at relieving symptoms such as reduced urinary flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, post urination dripping, and the constant urge to urinate."

Summary on stinging nettle: effective at reducing symptoms AND reducing size of prostate and number of cells. That sounds like a better deal than JUST masking symptoms. Stopping (and maybe reversing?) overgrowth seems more like dealing with ROOT CAUSE rather than just easing symptoms.

This brings us to....

Saw Palmetto

The NIH has an interesting article looking at a controlled, blind study (the best testing method, it seems) about Saw Palmetto.

Results: Subjects treated with β-sitosterol enriched saw palmetto oil showed significant decrease in IPSS, AMS and ADAM scores along with reduced postvoiding residual volume (p < 0.001), PSA (p < 0.01) and 5α-reductase from baseline to end of 12-week treatment as compared to placebo. There was also a significant increment in the maximum and average urine flow rate (p < 0.001), and serum free testosterone level of subjects treated with enriched saw palmetto oil as compared to placebo.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the efficacy of β-sitosterol enriched saw palmetto oil superior to conventional oil thus extending the scope of effective BPH and androgen deficiency treatment with improved quality of life through the intake of functional ingredients.

Translation: The study had three groups of people in it. One part got a placebo; a second part got the Saw Palmetto by itself; the third part got the Saw Palmetto together with beta sitosterol. There was a marked difference in benefit, mostly in the group that got the combination of beta sitosterol AND the Saw Palmetto.

So notice, now, that the PX7 Primal flow has both the beta sitosterol AND the Saw Palmetto. To me, that is a BIG PLUS, and maybe the reason it works for me so well.

Pumpkin Seed Extract

in a PubMed.Gov article (NIH) they discussed pumpkin seed extract for treating symptoms of PBH (prostate enlargement). In this study, they used a pumpkin seed extract to test its effectiveness on treating symptoms of enlarged prostate.

They had a total of 60 men, average age of 62 with very high levels of symptoms. They received one dose daily of pumpkin seed extract, for 3 months. 

Change in IPSS [standard grading for symptoms] within treatment period was assessed. Frequency of nocturia was recorded by bladder diary, and postvoid residual urine volume was determined through ultrasound. Between baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation, a significant symptom reduction of an average 30.1%.... Symptom alleviation had a high impact on quality of life... and was significant after 8 and 12 weeks of intervention... Nocturia significantly decreased over time, as confirmed by IPSS questionnaire and bladder diary. Postvoid residual urine volume was significantly reduced at the end of intervention... 

These results indicate that the oil-free hydroethanolic pumpkin seed extract seems to be a very well tolerable, appropriate plant extract to support health benefits in a collective suffering from BPH related symptoms without the need of medical treatment.

Translation: The men kept diary records and they tested the bladder contents with ultrasound. Results?

• An average of 30% reduction occurred:
• decreased nighttime urination;
• a great reduction of urine left in the bladder after urination

Bottom line is it seems to have a great impact on reducing symptoms.

One thing to note about NIH reports is that they always show a "conflict of interest" statement about those running the study. Just something to be aware of.

Some of guys doing the study work for companies that make pharmaceuticals or natural products. One is an independent urologist, and a fourth one is employed by the University of Graz. They all declare that they have no conflict of interest.

But I like that the NIH lists this stuff with the study. Always good to be transparent.

Pygeum Bark

You can find a lot on the NIH website. If you can intrepret the "glockspeak" it has some good information. And I wanted to touch on something I found about this Pygeum Bark that is in the VigRX.

From a paper on the NIH website (trimmed for clarity):

Trials were searched in computerized general and specialized databases, by checking bibliographies, and by contacting relevant manufacturers and researchers....

Trials were eligible if they (1) were randomized (2) included men with BPH (3) compared preparations of Pygeum africanum (alone or in combination) with placebo or other BPH medications (4) included clinical outcomes such as urologic symptom scales, symptoms, or urodynamic measurements. Eligibility was assessed by at least two independent observers. 

A total of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 1562 men met inclusion criteria and were analyzed... 17 were double-blinded... The [average] study duration was 64 days... 

Compared to men receiving placebo, Pygeum africanum provided a moderately large improvement in the combined outcome of urologic symptoms and flow measures... Men using Pygeum africanum were more than twice as likely to report an improvement in overall symptoms... Nocturia was reduced by 19%, residual urine volume by 24% and peak urine flow was increased by 23%. Adverse effects due to Pygeum Africanum were mild and comparable to placebo. 

Reviewer's conclusions: A standardized preparation of Pygeum africanum may be a useful treatment option for men with lower urinary symptoms consistent with benign prostatic hyperplasia....

Are there other products worth considering?

Quite honestly, there are a lot of them out there, but I've not found much that compares in value and effectiveness based on the research I've found.

But Larry King seems to think Prostagenix is the best bet here. And he has a doctor on with him to explain that nothing matters except the beta sitosterol. Is that really the case?

Are plant sterols "all that?"

Honestly, based on what I'm reading in the NIH studies, I'm not sure that the guys at SBP are correct about beta sitosterol being the only thing that matters. 

I honestly don't know. I know that Super Beta Prostate has a little more of the plant sterols that the VigRX has. But the beta sitosterol in the VigRX Prostate Support is there to work in conjunction with the stinging nettle. It doesn't seem to be an ingredient to work on its own so much as to increase the effectiveness of the stinging nettle in the formula.

The prostagenix seems to be geared around the whole plant sterol complex as being "the thing." Remember, the NIH double-blind study seemed to indicate that it really only helped with symptoms but not with reducing inflammation.

The ingredients in the VigRX Prostate Support are shown in NIH studies to do both: relieve symptoms AND reduce inflammation.

I suppose the Primegenix is worth a try if you're interested. But it didn't work for me. For me, I found results from the ingredients in the VigRX. And honestly, I let it go for a while before I actually found the VigRX Prostate Support formula.

So when I started with the VigRX, I actually doubled it up for about 6 weeks or so, to get a jump on the game. The recommended dose is 3 capsules per day. I went with 6 for a while, and now use 3 per day as a maintenance amount after I got the results I needed.

My current regimen is now VigRX Prostate Support.

Click on the picture below to jump to the manufacturer's website. I think it's the bomb.

Try it. They offer discounts for multiple bottles purchased together and offer a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied. What do you have to lose?

Get VigRX HERE. 

Trust me on this. I was running low on my PX7 but I just ordered this instead. 

I am currently working on a post about this. As soon as I finish it, I will redirect from here to that post so you can see what I mean.

Thanks.

Roo